Netherlands · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS

15 Dutch Boat Trips Worth the Fare

312 tours  ·  from $7

Half of this country reads better from the water than the pavement. The 15 below run from a 50-minute Haarlem loop to a harbour crossing in Rotterdam and a village cruise at Giethoorn, each priced and clear about what is covered.

Amsterdam Classic Saloon Boat Cruise with Drinks and Cheese - The Prinsengracht and Anne Frank House
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Amsterdam Classic Saloon Boat Cruise with Drinks and Cheese

1.Amsterdam Classic Saloon Boat Cruise with Drinks and Cheese

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 31,825 reviews · from $21Our pick

Spend an hour on Amsterdam’s UNESCO-listed canals aboard a classic covered wooden saloon boat. A guide such as Sofia, Noa, or Albert may share local history as you pass Anne Frank House, Jordaan, Rijksmuseum, Skinny Bridge, and Bloemenmarkt. The upgraded package includes Gouda, mustard, beer, wine, and soft drinks. Boats and routes vary by departure point.

“Great tour with extremely nice tour guide and professional skipper. Beautiful evening views of the Amsterdam.”

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Amsterdam Luxury Canal Cruise + Unlimited Drinks & Bites option - What the drinks and bites option really means
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Amsterdam Luxury Canal Cruise + Unlimited Drinks & Bites option

2.Amsterdam Luxury Canal Cruise + Unlimited Drinks & Bites option

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30,518 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $18

Cruise Amsterdam’s canals for about an hour on a small electric boat with a live English-speaking guide. See the Jordaan, Anne Frank House, Rijksmuseum, Magere Brug, Bloemenmarkt, and the Bridge of 15 Bridges. The drinks and bites option adds unlimited beverages and light snacks, but confirm exactly what your package includes before boarding.

“The tour was a little hard to find but lucky for us, it started late. Seemed the captain needed a break to have a cigarette before his next tour which would have been okay but we had a museum time slot booked which made us anxious but we made it after all. The tour guide was nice but a little awkward and didn’t seem to have a clear set plan to explain everything. The tour had unlimited food and drinks…. Option, key word here. Many of us did not select the option and thought it was included which is our bad but knowing it was more than just our group…”

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Amsterdam: Classic Boat Cruise with Optional Cheese & Wine - Boarding near the Anne Frank House
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Amsterdam: Classic Boat Cruise with Optional Cheese & Wine

3.Classic Boat Cruise with Optional Cheese & Wine

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 22,925 reviews · from $18

Spend an hour on a covered, fully electric boat with an English-speaking skipper and hostess. See the Skinny Bridge, Jordaan, Anne Frank House, Maritime Museum, Golden Bend, and Old Harbor. Choose the standard cruise or add unlimited Dutch cheese, wine, beer, and soft drinks. Guides such as Salim, Tom, Rose, and Sophia are praised for lively stories and useful city tips.

“The hosts were fun and knowledgable. I’d happily pay to go again”

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Amsterdam: Evening Cruise with Optional Wine and Snacks - Boarding near Stadhouderskade
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Amsterdam: Evening Cruise with Optional Wine and Snacks

4.Evening Cruise with Optional Wine and Snacks

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 19,696 reviews · from $22

Cruise Amsterdam’s UNESCO-listed canals for 90 minutes with multilingual audio commentary, warm covered seating, and views of the Skinny Bridge, Rijksmuseum, and Amstel. Add a snack box with crisps, popcorn, stroopwafels, peanuts, and a choice of soft drink, beer, or wine. Captain Peter is known for adding lively commentary when scheduled.

“I'd like more info from the captain as we travel along”

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Amsterdam: 75 Minute City Canal Cruise with Audio Guide - Boarding south of the center
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Amsterdam: 75 Minute City Canal Cruise with Audio Guide

5.75 Minute City Canal Cruise with Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 17,501 reviews · from $17Best value

Cruise Amsterdam’s historic canals for 75 minutes with audio commentary in 19 languages. You’ll pass Westerkerk, the Anne Frank House area, the Amstel, Magere Brug, NEMO, and the Museum Quarter. Choose a snackbox with sweet and savory bites, and children receive a pirate-themed audio story and booklet.

“everything is great! the captain told me how to use the audio guides, and also gave additional comments on the buildings around us. at the end he congratulated my mother on her birthday. thanks for the reception and the quality of work”

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Amsterdam All-Inclusive 90-Minutes Heated Cruise by Captain Jack - The Amstel and Amsterdam’s eastern sights
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Amsterdam All-Inclusive 90-Minutes Heated Cruise by Captain Jack

6.Amsterdam All-Inclusive 90-Minutes Heated Cruise by Captain Jack

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16,101 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $27

Cruise Amsterdam’s canals for 90 minutes from the Rijksmuseum or Central Station. Your captain, such as Joe, Roland, Oliver, David, or JP, combines city stories with Heineken, wine, and Dutch snacks. Boats may be open or enclosed, so bring warm layers and arrive 10 minutes early.

“Great experience, enjoyed the snacks and the view. Tour takes a variable path through the many canals of the city, and the tour guide offer nice commentary as we traveled”

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Amsterdam: Open Boat Cruise option Unlimited Drinks & Bite - The route: from historic canals to the Amstel
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Amsterdam: Open Boat Cruise option Unlimited Drinks & Bite

7.Open Boat Cruise option Unlimited Drinks & Bite

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 15,046 reviews · from $22

See Amsterdam from a 100% electric boat as a local skipper and host guide you past the Maritime Museum, Hermitage Museum, Skinny Bridge, Amstel Hotel, and Anne Frank House area. Choose unlimited beer, wine, soft drinks, and one portion of small bites. Open boats run when weather allows, with covered or enclosed boats in colder conditions.

“Our captain and Steffy were great, the guide was humorous and informative. Would highly recommend - since our booking was the last of the night, it did get quite cold so dress accordingly. And tip your hosts!!!”

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Amsterdam: City Centre Canal Cruise - Why the Audio Guide Works Well
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Amsterdam: City Centre Canal Cruise

8.City Centre Canal Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 12,827 reviews · from $18

Cruise Amsterdam’s UNESCO-listed canal district for one hour, departing from the Central Station area and returning to the meeting point. You’ll pass Golden Age merchant houses, churches, bridges, houseboats, and the Magere Brug. Recorded commentary is available in 19 languages, with captains such as Simon and Mo sometimes adding their own humor and local observations.

“Nice view of the lights in the winter. Great location. The canals were very nice.”

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Amsterdam: Smoke and Lounge City Boat Cruise - From Central Station into the historic canal belt
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Amsterdam: Smoke and Lounge City Boat Cruise

9.Smoke and Lounge City Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 8,572 reviews · 1 hour - 70 minutes · from $27

Cruise Amsterdam’s central canals for 70 minutes on a cozy, smoke-friendly lounge boat holding up to 22 people. Your English- or Dutch-speaking captain and guide take you past the Herengracht, Prinsengracht, Seven Bridges, Amstel, Skinny Bridge, and Dancing Houses. Bring your own cannabis, add drinks for €10 or €15, and expect relaxed music rather than a party boat.

“Such nice crew so chill just let you do your thing”

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Rotterdam: Harbor Sightseeing Cruise - Seeing the Port at Work
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Rotterdam: Harbor Sightseeing Cruise

10.Harbor Sightseeing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 7,599 reviews · 1h 15m · from $22

From Willemsplein, you take a 75-minute round-trip cruise through Rotterdam’s working harbor. Expect shipyards, docks, container handling, inland and sea-going ships, skyline views, and a pass by the steamship Rotterdam. The boat has indoor and outdoor seating, onboard drinks and snacks, and commentary in Dutch, English, French, and German.

“Comfortable boat, with indoor and several outdoor options. Snacks and warm beverage options were welcomed given the chilly weather. Guide information was informative and timely, and provided in different languages for everyone to enjoy.”

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Amsterdam: Luxury Saloon Boat Cruise with Cocktails & Waffle - What the open saloon boat feels like
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Amsterdam: Luxury Saloon Boat Cruise with Cocktails & Waffle

11.Luxury Saloon Boat Cruise with Cocktails & Waffle

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5,935 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $21

Cruise Amsterdam’s canals aboard an open Friendship saloon boat for about an hour. Your captain and hostess explain sights such as the Old Church, Magere Brug, Amstel River, Central Station, and the Red Light District. Drinks are available from the onboard bar, blankets are provided, and guides such as Nuno, René, Adriana, and Neils have earned warm praise for their lively commentary.

“Sigrid and Kyan were wonderful bartender and guides! We thoroughly enjoyed the last ride at night with them…. We would highly recommend them!”

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Amsterdam: Covered Canal Booze Cruise with Unlimited Drinks - What the $18 price really gives you
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Amsterdam: Covered Canal Booze Cruise with Unlimited Drinks

12.Covered Canal Booze Cruise with Unlimited Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 5,435 reviews · 1 hour · from $18

Spend one hour on a covered Amsterdam canal boat with a skipper and English-speaking host. Choose two drinks or unlimited beer, wine, and soda as you pass the Red Light District, Amstel River, Seven Bridges, Herengracht, and Prinsengracht. Guides such as Diana, Edward, Sabrina, and Yannis are known for friendly stories and easygoing humor.

“Laurens and Yelly were superb, excellent knowledge and a few jokes here and there. Highly recommend 👍”

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Amsterdam: City Canal Cruise and Heineken Experience Ticket - Starting at Stadhouderskade 78
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Amsterdam: City Canal Cruise and Heineken Experience Ticket

13.City Canal Cruise and Heineken Experience Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5,367 reviews · 3 hours · from $47

Spend about three hours combining a 75-minute canal cruise with the Heineken Experience at Stadhouderskade 78. You’ll see Amsterdam’s canals, bridges, museums, and modern architecture, then explore Heineken’s brewing story through interactive displays, brand history, and two complimentary drinks. The cruise uses multilingual audio, while the brewery visit is self-guided.

“I loved having chosen this plan, The Heineken Experience is spectacular, in front of the building are the boats that you can take, the boat ride is very nice. I am very satisfied with having chosen this and would recommend it 100%.”

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Amsterdam Canal Cruise in Open Boat with Unlimited Drinks Option - Boarding a sleek electric boat
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Amsterdam Canal Cruise in Open Boat with Unlimited Drinks Option

14.Amsterdam Canal Cruise in Open Boat with Unlimited Drinks Option

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,976 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $21

See Amsterdam from a sleek electric open boat with an English-speaking captain, passing Westerkerk, Jordaan canals, the Hermitage Museum, bridges, and evening lights. The small group setting feels personal, and blankets and umbrellas may be available in poor weather. An unlimited drinks upgrade is offered, though service can vary.

“It was a great evening cruise, the boat operator shared lots of details of the city. This was so informative evening, great to see the city come to life with all the lights. Would definitely recommend this cruise.”

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Amsterdam: Van Gogh Museum Ticket and City Canal Cruise - Seeing Sunflowers without expecting Starry Night
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Amsterdam: Van Gogh Museum Ticket and City Canal Cruise

15.Van Gogh Museum Ticket and City Canal Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 3,899 reviews · 3 hours · from $47

Visit the Van Gogh Museum at your reserved time, then take a 75-minute canal cruise from the Hard Rock Café or Heineken Experience docks. You get museum admission and cruise audio commentary, but the Van Gogh multimedia guide costs extra. The covered boats run in most weather, and kids receive a free story booklet and audio tale.

“I enjoy the museum wasn’t as big as I thought but still was there for over 2 hours and glad you can go at what every pace you like The canal cruise was amazing so many hidden knowledge along the route and happy it was a long tour definitely moneys worthy”

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New in Cruises & Boat Tours

★ 5.0Private Romantic Evening Canal Cruise + Bubbles/Snacks46 reviews
★ 4.0Amsterdam Private Boat Trip with Pizza and Unlimited DrinksFrom $29711 reviews
★ 5.0Private Guided Historic Amsterdam Canal Cruise in a Salon Boat21 reviews
★ 5.0Amsterdam Private Dinner Cruise incl Drinks & 2-course Dinner 2hrFrom $45866 reviews
★ 4.5Private Day Trip from Amsterdam to Giethoorn including boat tourFrom $50510 reviews
★ 5.0Amsterdam Champagne Private Canal CruiseFrom $33642 reviews
★ 4.5Private Champagne Canal Cruise in Amsterdam43 reviews
★ 4.5Amsterdam Private Boat Tour with Unlimited DrinksFrom $23590 reviews
★ 5.0Amsterdam 90-min Private Canal Cruise with Live Guide and DrinksFrom $128284 reviews
★ 5.0Private Boat Tour Amsterdam – 90 Min incl. welcome drink on historic saloon boatFrom $26582 reviews
★ 5.0Amsterdam Highlights Canal Cruise with a DrinkFrom $63366 reviews
★ 5.0Amsterdam Private Boat Trip With Skipper, Burger and BeersFrom $2945 reviews
★ 5.0Amsterdam Private Canal Cruise – 90 Minutes through the Old City25 reviews
★ 5.060-Minute Guided Private Canal Cruise with DrinksFrom $100102 reviews
★ 5.0Private 90 Minute Amsterdam Canal Belt Exploration Cruise10 reviews

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